The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-04-28

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crop, but on it should be raised a
variety of crops. If one crop is grown
annually for number of years on the
same land, the soil becomes exhausted
of certain elements necessary for the
plants growth unless properly ma.
nured, which is very hard thing to
do. To do this would require care.
full analysis of the SOIL A plant only
takes just certain proportion of each
element composing it. One or more
elements may naturally exist in abund-
ance, in the soil, but in the absence of
any one element, it makes no difference
how small the amount required, the
crop is failure
One of the best means of avoiding
the exhausting of certain elements in
the soil, is by rotation of crops. No
two crops are composed of the same
elements exactly in the same proper
ton.
will give plan for the rotation of
crops which | think good one.
We will suppose a variety of crops
is the wish of the farmer, and his OBJ
ject to improve his farm and at the same
time make his home comfortable, and
some money by his farm Will state
in the outset, however, that no definite
plan can be given, for much depends
upon the land, and taste of the person
concerned Say he wishes to cultivate
pease, grain (oats, wheat, ETC., cotton,
corn, grass, potatoes, tobacco, etc. Of
these, pease, cotton, corn, potatoes and
tobacco will require constant cultiva-
ton.
AS to quantity to cultivate of each
Of these crops, | should say let pease
and grass represent about one-fifth of
the farm, grain, (wheat and oats) one
fifth, or a little more, cotton one-fifth,
and potatoes and other crops, one
fifth or little less.
To begin, plant the portion allotted
to pease, first preparing the land we'll,
and manure them, if you have the
spare manure, but do not slight the
other crops for this one, and put in the
seed pease as soon as danger from
frost is over. Cultivate this crop we'll,
and save all the pease, This crop will
mature in time to harvest them before
and about pulling fodder time. If
convenient, the hogs may be pastured
on this lot for few days. Then turn
under the vines to good depth, but
do not use plow that completely
reverses the soil. [ prefer plow that
just edges over. In few more days,
or about the middle to last of October,
plow this land we'll, again after apply
ing it's quota of manure, broadcast,
and SOW in wheat, and harrow in. The
wheat may have top dressing and
narrowing in the spring, or not, as
suits the individual. When the wheat
comes off, just as soon as you possibly
can plant in pease again.
This time suit your own convenience
as to whether plant in drills and cul-
tivate or SOW them broadcast. The
former is preferable, for then you have
chance Of another good crop from
this land for the same season. AL
ways manure, every time you plant, if
you have the manure, but if any of
the crops are to be sighted, let it be
the field-pea, unless the land be very
poor, when they will need something
to start them This land after this,
may be planted in cotton, the follow
ing year in corn, then in potatoes or
other crops, or in grass or pease
again, thus completing the rotation
All the time plow the land we'll and
until it is .tne but mever when too wet
This is for the good of the land. Pas
ture lands are not included in this
rotation.
Now about managing the stock, etc.:
Every horse and COW should have
its stall, which should be warm and
comfortable in winter, and SO as to be
ventilated in summer. Each animal
should be fed in it's oa0n stall and be
confined there until turned out. The
stables should be kept well Uttered,
and never suffered to become wet and
foul. A good bed should be kept for
the above purpose and to absorb the
liquid portion Of the manure, which is
the most valuable part. Sawdust is a
good absorbent, and might be prop
erty used-a layer three or four inches
deep in the bottom of the stall. On